English pop singer, songwriter and photographer
Born: 24th October 1948, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Died: 28th September 2021
Ryan was married to Christine Davison and had two children, Jack Davison (18 April 1995) and Sophia Davison (4 September 1996). The son of pop singer Marion Ryan and Fred Sapherson, Barry and his twin brother Paul Ryan (1948-1992) began to perform at the age of fifteen. In 1965 they signed a recording contract with Decca as a duo - Paul & Barry Ryan - and brought out singles such as "Don't Bring Me Your Heartaches" (1965), "Have Pity on the Boy" (1966), and "Missy Missy" (1966).
When it turned out that Barry's brother, allegedly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, was unable to cope any longer with all the stress connected with show business, the two brothers decided on a new division of labour: Paul would write the songs which Barry would then interpret as a solo artist. Their greatest success as a composer-singer duo, now for MGM Records, was "Eloise" (1968), melodramatic and heavily orchestrated. Later singles included "Love Is Love" (also 1968), "The Hunt" (1969), "Magical Spiel" (1970), and "Kitsch" (1970). "Love Is Love", also written by Paul, and released in the United Kingdom during February 1969 was not a great success in his own country. However combining sales from Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, "Love is Love" sold a million copies by August 1969, the second million-seller for Ryan. Ryan was also very popular in Germany. Promoted by BRAVO, the German youth magazine, Ryan also recorded a number of songs in German, for example "Die Zeit macht nur vor dem Teufel halt" ("Time Only Stops at The Devil").
Ryan stopped performing in the early 1970s. There were rumours that Ryan had had an accident in the recording studio. Supposedly he suffered serious burn wounds in the face and could no longer appear in public. Instead, he turned to his lifelong passion, photography, clocking up portraits from Paul McCartney and Bjork to Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, with the National Portrait Gallery buying several of his pictures. He made a comeback in the late 1990s when a two CD set with his, and his brother's, old songs was published. Ryan was also part of the 'Solid Silver 60s Tour' of the UK in 2003, singing "Eloise" backed by The Dakotas.
2024
7T's Records
5xCD, Comp
2009
Magic Records (2)
CD, Comp
2005
Rev-Ola
CD, Comp
2003
Not On Label
CD, Album
2002
D.V. More Record
CD, Comp
2000
1997
1995
1995
1992
1991
Polyphon
CD, Comp
1991
Polyphon
CD, Comp
1991
1990
1989
1984
1981
1980
Double Gold
7", RE
1980
1980
1978
MGM Records
7", Single
1978
1977
Polydor
7", RP
1977
World Sound Records (2)
LP, Album
1977
1976
1976
1976
1976
1976
1975
1975
1974
Polydor
7", Single, RE
1974
Polydor
7"
1974
1973
Brunswick
LP, Comp
1972
Karussell
LP, Comp
1972
1972
1972
1972
1972
1972
1971
Polydor
2xLP, Comp + Box
1971
Polydor
7", Single
1971
1971
1971
1971
1971
1970
Ricordi, Ricordi International
7", Promo
1970
Polydor
7", EP
1970
Ricordi, CBS
7", EP, Promo
1970
Polydor
7", EP
1970
1970
1970
1970
1970
1969
MGM Records, Ricordi
7", Promo
1969
MGM Records, Ricordi
7", Promo
1969
MGM Records, Ricordi
7", Promo
1969
MGM Records
7", EP
1969
1969
1969
1969
1969
1969
1968
MGM Records
7", EP
1968
MGM Records
7", EP
1968
Top 4
7", Comp
1968
MGM Records
7", EP
1968
1968
1968
Polydor
2x7", Gat
Karussell
LP, Comp
Polydor
CD, Comp
Magic Records (2), MGM Records, MGM Records
CD, Single, RM, Car
2017
Magic Records
3xCD, Comp
2016
Metro Select
2xCD, Comp, RM
2012
Sony Music, Sony Music, Sony Music
Box + 3xDVD-V, Comp, PAL
2008
Labo Nuytinck
CD, Album
2007
3-Owls Records
CD, Album
2007
Edel Records
2xCD, Comp, Mixed
2006
Pingo Music
CD, Album
2003
Leningrad Cowboys Ltd
DVD-V, PAL
2003
2002
Noize Factor Records
CD, Single, Promo
2002
Psycho!
CD, Comp, Enh, Promo, Car
2002
Metal Mind Productions
CD, Comp, Promo
2001
1999
Sonocord
CD, Album, Club
1997
Super Music (3)
CD, Comp
1994
Jimco Records
CD, Mini, Single, Promo
1993
Discomagic Records
CD, Comp, Mixed
1993
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